Title :

In Vitro Degradation Studies of 3D-Printed Thermoplastic Polyurethane for the Design of Vascular Implant

Author(s) :

Vanden Broeck, Kim [Auteur]
Unité Matériaux et Transformations - UMR 8207 [UMET]
M'bengue, Marie-Stella [Auteur]
Unité Matériaux et Transformations - UMR 8207 [UMET]
Mesnard, Thomas [Auteur]
Institut Coeur Poumon [CHU Lille]
Maton, Mickael [Auteur]
Université de Lille
Tabary, Nicolas [Auteur]
Unité Matériaux et Transformations (UMET) - UMR 8207
Sobocinski, Jonathan [Auteur]
Advanced Drug Delivery Systems (ADDS) - U1008
Martel, Bernard [Auteur]
Unité Matériaux et Transformations (UMET) - UMR 8207
Blanchemain, Nicolas [Auteur]
Advanced Drug Delivery Systems (ADDS) - U1008

Journal title :

Materials

Abbreviated title :

Materials

Volume number :

18

Pages :

4948

Publisher :

MDPI AG

Publication date :

2025-10-29

ISSN :

1996-1944

English keyword(s) :

3D printing
thermoplastic polyurethane
vascular implant
in vitro ageing
material degradation
surface properties
mechanical properties

HAL domain(s) :

Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]
Chimie/Matériaux
Chimie/Polymères

English abstract : [en]

Three-dimensional printing has emerged as a promising technology in endovascular surgery for the production of patient-specific stent-grafts. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is widely used for this purpose due to its ...
Show more >Three-dimensional printing has emerged as a promising technology in endovascular surgery for the production of patient-specific stent-grafts. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is widely used for this purpose due to its favourable biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and mechanical properties. However, its long-term stability under physiological conditions remains uncertain. This study evaluates the ageing behaviour of 3D-printed TPU stent-grafts under accelerated oxidative conditions (20% H2O2–0.1 M CoCl2) over three months, corresponding to approximately 45 months in vivo, and during three months in hydrolytic (0.1 M NaOH) conditions. Mechanical, physicochemical, thermal, and surface properties were periodically analysed. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed a decrease in crystallisation enthalpy of 41% and a reduction in melting enthalpy of 29% after hydrolytic ageing, whereas no decrease was observed after oxidative ageing. Despite these chemical changes, size exclusion chromatography indicated minimal chain scission. However, spectroscopy and microscopy showed minor chain scission and additive migration (antioxidant and lubricant). Nevertheless, tensile testing highlighted that mechanical performance remained within clinically acceptable ranges. These findings demonstrate that 3D-printed TPU vascular implants retain essential properties under prolonged simulated ageing, supporting their safety and durability for vascular applications.Show less >

Language :

Anglais

Audience :

Internationale

Popular science :

Non

Administrative institution(s) :

Université de Lille
CNRS
INRAE
ENSCL

Collections :

• Unité Matériaux et Transformations (UMET) - UMR 8207

Research team(s) :

Ingénierie des Systèmes Polymères

Submission date :

2025-10-30T09:23:25Z
2025-10-31T08:45:22Z